Todd, Tim and Kellan Cook love Baseball, the Seattle Mariners and trekking around the country to visit stadiums and watch games. These are their stories. #FatherSonBaseball

1st Baseball Roadtrip Recap (2008)

Tomorrow evening, Tim and I will fly to Chicago where we will meet up with my dad. Its time for The (Second Annual) Great Cook Father-Son-Grandson Baseball Roadtrip of 2009. I figured I’d share the story of our The (original) Great Cook Father-Son-Grandson Baseball Roadtrip of 2008 so you know the background of this grand tradition.

I only started blogging about our baseball experiences this season. Last season, I had to resort to traditional email updates to keep my wife and other family members up-to-date on our trip status. Below, I have copied and pasted those email updates with just a few of the many pictures that were originally attached to the emails. I hope you enjoy.

This season, our Road Trip will take us from Wrigley to the HHH Metrodome to Miller Park and back to the south side of Chicago for a game at U.S. Cellular Field. The last game of the Road Trip will mark an important milestone and I’m EXTREMELY excited to get this trip under way and rack up some awesome family baseball memories.

So, here is the background I promised:

[AUGUST 15, 2008]

So we are in Washington, PA at our first night KOA. The drive went well last night. Tim got whiney right at the end when we took a wrong turn and got lost for a short time. Otherwise, he did great.He wasn’t too excited to sleep in the cabin at first, but he ended up having a great night and is really enjoying the campground. He thinks the red light on the fire alarm on the ceiling of the cabin is a ladybug and he talked about it at great length last night until 12:30 am when he finally went to bed.This morning he did some exploring and then hit some baseballs. Pa and I played catch in between Tim’s hacks at the tee.Next, we’re off to Cabela’s in West Virginia so Tim can check out some live fish and dead animals. Then its on to Cincinnati where we will be in a hotel. The Reds play the Cardinals tonight and I’m hoping Pujols hits 4 homeruns.Here are some pictures.Next update tonight following the game.-Todd

[AUGUST 16, 2008]

Here are a ton of pictures from today. We arrived in Cincinnati around 3pm. Hung out at our hotel a bit. Then we hit the streets and walked to “Skyline Chili” for dinner. I got the 5-ways Chili, Dad got 2 Cheese Coneys and cheese fries, and Tim got the kid’s cheese coney meal. You might notice in the pictures, there was some cheese involved. (note, I also got non-cheese fries).Then it was off to the game. As per usual, Tim’s cuteness secured him a ball. This time, from Cardinals reliever Chris Perez, who would eventually earn a save in the game. We also got two autographs. Some dude, and Edison Volquez — a hot, up-and-coming pitcher for the Reds, you might have heard of him, he started the all-star game for the NL this season. [Note: At the time I wrote this, I was under the impression Volquez had been the starter, I’m not sure why. I’m now aware Ben Sheets was the starter…I’m not sure why.]

We then toured the Reds Hall of Fame, which is really cool. There is a lot to see and do in there. Including a pitching areas where you can pitch and someone can stick their head in a little window and call balls and strikes.

Eventually, the game started. We had nice outfield seats. The stadium is nice. Seemed small and cozy. Tim and I had some great ice cream in Reds helmets. We did a lot of walking around and seeing all the ins-and-outs of the ball park.

After the game (Cardinals won 5-3), they had a spectacular fireworkds show. I think it might have been Tim’s first. He loved it. The grande finale was one of the best i’ve seen.

Then we walked back to the hotel. Tim fell asleep on my shoulders.More tomorrow…-Todd

[AUGUST 16, 2008]

Hi, Guys. Another great day on the baseball roadtrip. We woke up in Cincinnati and got showered up. Tim had a fine day of brushing his teeth, started off with some quality morning brushing. After leaving the room and packing up the car, we headed to the free breakfast in the hotel. It hit the spot. Then it was just 100 mile drive to Louisville. Note, Cincinnati has some of the best this-way-to-the-freeway signage I’ve ever seen. There was a sign “To 75” just as we exited our hotel and another one every block for the entire mile or two that we weaved around the city before getting on the freeway.Tim did great in the car on the way down, which made the drive nice. Louisville Slugger was excellent, even though Tim was not. Tim’s theatrics began during the factory tour because little ones are not allowed to sit on dad’s shoulders in the factory (although there was nothing low hanging that would have bonked tim’s head). so, he whined a bunch in the factory. I was suprised how small the factory is. They essentially make all MLB bats (about 40% of all bats used in the MLB) on one machine. It cranks them out at rate of 30 seconds per bat. Minor League bats are made on the other side of the factory.The museum was really cool. The best item in there, in my book, was a bat Babe Ruth used the year he hit 60 homeruns. The Babe carved 21 notches around the label on the bat, one for each home run he hit with the bat before it broke. The bat is huge, as you can see in the picture when you compare it to the guy standing behind it.There was also a baseball diamon in one room. Tim loved it. They gave everyone mini-bats and Tim swung, swung, swung and ran, ran, ran (the bases) in that room. He had another melt down when we finally made him leave the room. Note, that room has a dugout, and Tim and I got an awesome picture acting like we are teammates at the top step waiting to hit.They also have two batting cages in the museum. I took two rounds. One with Ty Cobbs bat. The heaviest bat ever. Let me tell you, you notice it at the plate! The second with a Jim Thome bat, which was designed by Edgar Martinez (the guy running the cage is a huge M’s fan and picked it out for me because of the Edgar connection). Dad took one round with the Hank Aaron bat. Again, Tim had a minor meltdown when not allowed to take any hacks in the cage.We all got personalized bats. Tim and mine are with us, but Dad’s is being mailed to Edmonds. I picked black bats with silver writing to look like Griff’s bat. I got them personalized to remember the roadtrip.

Next, it was off to Brookville, OH (ten miles outside of Dayton). We’re now in our cabin at the KOA. Its a great KOA. Tim had an absolute blast. We arrived around 4:30. Tim played like crazy in the huge boat-shaped sand box. He played with tons of kids in the playset area. He sat on crazy-four-wheeler bikes you can rent. He played tons of gold with his new M’s golf set, even enlisting several neighorhooding campers (kids and adults) to golf and/or hit baseballs with him.We capped off the night with Superman Ice cream (except dad has moose tracks, I think). Then it was more quality tooth brushing. Now, lil’ Timmers is sleeping an Dad is off brushing his teeth.Oh, I forgot to mention, we BBQ’d at the cabin for dinner. Excellent BBQ’ing by dad.Oh, I also forgot a great line from this morning. I was emailing in the hotel room and Tim said something to Pa. Then, Pa said to Tim, “No, your Pa has it.” And Tim got this big huge smile on his face like something really funny just happened and he says to me, “You’re Pa!? You’re Pa!?” It was quite funny.Anyway, that’s update no. 3. Please enjoy a ton of pictures below.-Todd

[AUGUST 17, 2008]

howdy, folks. so we find ourselves at the end of another great day. we woke up in Brookville, OH this morning at about 7:30. We got the car all packed up before Tim finally woke up. By 8am, we were on the road heading to Cleveland. Tim was, once again, excellent in the car. We pulled into Cleveland by about 11:30.The game at Cleveland’s Progessive Field f/k/a Jacob’s Field was great. Our seats were in foul territory down the third base line. The Indians were playing the Angels. I never really decided who i would root for, but when the Indians won, it was alright with me.Before the game, we toured the field by foot and then Tim and I shared some nachos while Dad had some red vines. Once the game started, Tim did a nice job sitting in the seats and allowing us to watch the game. However, by the fifth, Tim was quite ready for a nap and he decided to take it on my shoulders. I ended up watching several innings standing at the top of the section behind the seats while Tim did his best job of tryng to break my neck supporting him while he napped.During Tim’s nap, I talked to a robust field attendant and a guy in the last row. The attendant mentioned that it was “kids run the bases” day and that kids would start lining up by the 7th inning to run a lap of the bases following the game. So, after his nap, Tim and I met back up with grandpa and we went and found the line. After the Indians won the game (and series), the long line started to snake its way through the bowels of Progressive Field. (I’m happy to report that it has been 19 days since the Indians’ last “lost time” on the job accident — or at least so read the sign beneath the field).Because Tim’s such a little whipper snapper, they let me run the bases with him. We had a blast. Here is the picture the Indian’s took for us to purchase: http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?evgroupid=0&userid=indians&tcount=62&scount=20&gallery_id=1229183&image_id=19After the game, we collected the kid’s giveaway (they do it after the game for some reason), an Indians’ art set) and then we called Colleen to mapquest directions to our next KOA.We arrived in the Cleveland/Streetsboro KOA around 5pm. Its nice, but not as happening at the Brookville KOA (which, did we mention, won KOA’s Presidential Award last year). We played in the kids’ play area, fed fish from the dock, BBQ’d and made Tim’s first smorse around his first campfire tonight. Tim had a blast and just finally got to bed.All in all, it was another excellent day of road tripping. Tomorrow, we’re off to Pittsburgh. See you then. In the meantime, check out these pictures.-Todd

[AUGUST 18, 2008]

howdy, folks. so we made it home this evening, but not before taking in another great game on the roadtrip. we cruised a quick 100 miles into Pittsburgh, PA this morning for a 12:30 match-up between the Pirates and the visiting Mets. The teams decided against taking batting practice this morning so we wondered around the park before the game and ultimately ended up down the third base line where the Pirates’ pitchers were playing catch in pairs. the ball catching opportunities were slim, but we capitalized big-time. first, a Pirate pitcher (possibly someone-or-other Nelson) threw a ball to Pa. Then, Tim and I got Pa’s ball autographed by Matt Capps (DL). Next, Pa got our pitcher taken with Matt Capps.Next, Denny Bautista threw a ball to me and Tim. Then, Tim and I got it autographed by Sean Burnett (eventual winning pitcher on the day), Tyler Yates (relief pitcher today (pre-save)), and T.J. Beam. Finally, we capped off the session with a picture with Mr. Beam.Next, we walked around the park for a bit. We even visited the first water fountain Tim ever used (last September). The water fountain is doing well.We had a bite to eat before the game and Tim konked out on my shoulders, but let me switch him to a traditional baby-holding position. He slept through all the nachos!After his nap, we got some mint chocolate chip ice cream in Pirates’ helmets. While Tim ate his (with sprinkles) sitting under our seats, a nice camera man found us and broadcast Tim for about 10-15 seconds on the jumbo tv screen in the park. It was actually our second time getting media coverage on the day. Earlier, we had our text message about the roadtrip put up on the scoreboard between the first and second levels.Our seats in the OF were excellent. But, due to the heat, we eventually relocated to the handicap accessible seats under the right field seats. It had an excellent breeze that made the end of the exciting game even better.After the game, we took a leisurely 250 mile drive back to Reading where mommy was waiting to greet and hug us.Its been a truly great baseball roadtrip. Although I have to work in the day tomorrow, the roadtrip continues tomorrow evening with a Phils vs. Nats game in Philadelphia. Should be more of the same — fun, fun, fun.See pictures attached.-Todd

[AUGUST 19, 2008]

Well, here is the final update for the big baseball roadtrip. I was back to work today before taking off early to head down to the Phillies/Nationals game. It was nice to be back in the car and on the road again after a hard days work.The Phils pulled out a much needed come from behind win. They never led until one out in the bottom of the eighth. Then they brought in Brad Lidge and he sealed the deal.I didn’t expect a big crowd so I hadn’t pre-ordered tickets. When we arrived all they had left was obstructed view and standing room tickets. We opted for obstructed view. And, you know what? You can’t see very well through a big yellow foul pole.After a couple innings behind the pole, we hit the bricks. We walked down to the team store and then got something to eat. Pa and I got “Schmidters” and Tim got the biggest chocolate soft serve with sprinkles ever to be served in the mini-Phillies helmet.Tim started complaining about the wind in the stadium and saying he wanted to go home. So we put on his sweatshirt and walked some more. Eventually, we found a landing above the left field seats and below the jumbo screen. There was a sectioned off handicap area with one on in it. Tim went in and claimed it as his playground. When a guard came to kick him out, a bunch of guys yelled at her “LET HIM PLAY!!! LET HIM PLAY!!!” So she caved to the crowd-pressure. Tim played the rest of the game in there and eventually made fast friends with his would-be ejector. She ended up giving him a Phillies hat and trying continuously to get him on the jumbo screen to no avail. He really entertained in there and by the end of the game, he no longer wanted to go home.It was a nice game to end an excellent baseball roadtrip. Here are a few pictures from tonight.Thanks for staying tuned,Todd

And that, in a nutshell, was the First Annual Great Cook Father-Son-Grandson Baseball Roadtrip of 2008. I asked my dad to come out and take this trip with us because I wanted to go to the Louisville Slugger factory. We built the rest of the trip around that. By the time we got back to the hotel room in Cincinnati after the first game, we decided the trip had to be an annual thing.

4 Comments

I’m looking forward to seeing how your time at Wrigley went today. You are one lucky group of guys. I miss it there. I need to get back there to catch a game, though you have to overpay through Stubhub or get lucky to get tickets.

Great recap of last year – can barely wait to hear of the 2009 adventure – Have a great time together – Also sorry to hear of Jamie Moyer being out of the rotation – Hopefully the rest will do him good and the Phillies will see what they are missing (besides a closer). Todd

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.